Assistance or Assistants?

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Assistance or Assistants?

What is the difference between "assistance" and "assistants"?
  • "Assistance" means help or aid. For example:
    • I need assistance with my paperwork.
  • "Assistants" are people who provide help. It is the plural of the noun "assistant." For example:
    • How many assistants will you hire?
assistance or assistants
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More about "Assistance" and "Assistants"

The words "assistance" and "assistants" sound identical (i.e., they are a type of homonym called a homophone), but their meanings are different. Here is a quick summary:
  • Assistance means help.
  • Assistants are helpers.

Assistance

The noun "assistance" means help. It usually means providing money, resources, or information to assist. "Assistance" can usually be substituted with the word "help."

Examples:
  • I am unable to drive without assistance from my glasses.
  • Obviously, because of my disability, I need assistance. But I have always tried to overcome the limitations of my condition and lead as full a life as possible. (Physicist Stephen Hawking)

Assistants

The word "assistants" describes people who provide help. It is the plural of the noun "assistant."

Examples:
  • Rees and his assistants work at Columbia University, New York.
  • I don't like to work with assistants. I'm already one too many; the camera alone would be enough. (Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt)
Much Assistance and Many Assistants


"Assistance" is a non-countable noun; i.e., it doesn't have a plural form. Therefore, "many" cannot be used with "assistance" because "many" is only used with countable nouns (like "assistants"). With "assistance," use "much." For example:
  • My many assistants provide me with much assistance.
Interactive Exercise
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See Also

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